The Pantheon and the Parthenon: A Comparison of Greek and Roman Architecture
Two of the most reveled structures from ancient times are known worldwide, the Pantheon of Rome and the Parthenon of Greece. These feats of architecture symbolize the accomplishments of the great empires that shaped so much of history and even the world, as we know it today. In order to fully appreciate the impact of these monuments, we’ll take a closer look at their designs and their historical significance.
The Parthenon is one of the most preserved structures from ancient times. It was finished c. 125 C.E. and may have been a temple. The name Pantheon means “All of the Gods”, yet as Cartwright (2013) points out that “…no cult is known to all of the gods and so the Pantheon may have been designed as a place where the emperor could make public appearances in a setting which reminded onlookers of his divine status …” (para. 2). The entire structure stands on a base that is approximately 4 feet high and originally had steps that led up to the front. The two main portions of the building are the portico (porch) and the rotunda, a circular shaped building with a massive dome. The porch is designed in classical Greek elegance of the colonnade. The Pantheon is constructed of brick and concrete …show more content…
Moreover, with these, we inherit the ideas and concepts of philosophy, democracy, science, knowledge and education. The Pantheon symbolizes these ideals, along with the philosophy of humanism and the importance of individual accomplishment. This can be seen further, in the way that the Greeks designed and built their columns, in proportion to human scale, with columns and structures measured relative to human anatomical measurements. Cartwright (2012) describes the accomplishments of the Parthenon as
Two of the most reveled structures from ancient times are known worldwide, the Pantheon of Rome and the Parthenon of Greece. These feats of architecture symbolize the accomplishments of the great empires that shaped so much of history and even the world, as we know it today. In order to fully appreciate the impact of these monuments, we’ll take a closer look at their designs and their historical significance.
The Parthenon is one of the most preserved structures from ancient times. It was finished c. 125 C.E. and may have been a temple. The name Pantheon means “All of the Gods”, yet as Cartwright (2013) points out that “…no cult is known to all of the gods and so the Pantheon may have been designed as a place where the emperor could make public appearances in a setting which reminded onlookers of his divine status …” (para. 2). The entire structure stands on a base that is approximately 4 feet high and originally had steps that led up to the front. The two main portions of the building are the portico (porch) and the rotunda, a circular shaped building with a massive dome. The porch is designed in classical Greek elegance of the colonnade. The Pantheon is constructed of brick and concrete …show more content…
Moreover, with these, we inherit the ideas and concepts of philosophy, democracy, science, knowledge and education. The Pantheon symbolizes these ideals, along with the philosophy of humanism and the importance of individual accomplishment. This can be seen further, in the way that the Greeks designed and built their columns, in proportion to human scale, with columns and structures measured relative to human anatomical measurements. Cartwright (2012) describes the accomplishments of the Parthenon as